And polished sticks the waving engine spread,
His clouded mail the tortoise shall resign,
And round the rivet pearly circles shine.
On this shall Indians all their art employ,
And with bright colours stain the gaudy toy;
Their paint shall here in wildest fancies flow—
Their dress, their customs, their religion show.
So shall the British fair their minds improve,
And on the fan to distant climates rove.”
Doubtless, the most reasonable deduction to be arrived at is, that the fan has its origin in necessity; and in itself, trivial as it may appear, is perhaps of an importance few would conceive. It is not only an ornament to an élégante for the purpose, it is said, of flirting and coquetry, but serves as an instrument to chastise a lap-dog or a puppy.